The Indian cricket team's shocking 0-2 defeat to the Proteas in the recently concluded red-ball series has sent shockwaves through the squad.
In the final match, the visiting team handed India a record loss in Test cricket, against all odds. It was the Proteas' maiden series victory in the subcontinent in 25 years and India's second home series loss in just one year after a 12-year invincible streak.
The winning rhythm gained during the last several months has largely dissipated and the careers of multiple squad members - including team coach Gautam Gambhir - now hang in the balance.
Initial Hope Disappears
The emerging side's strong showing in the UK this season, under a different skipper, indicated a successful handover following the near-simultaneous departures of key players R Ashwin, Sharma, and Kohli.
A facile 2-0 victory over West Indies at the commencement of the home season boosted that belief, till the South Africans came and inflicted a devastating defeat.
India were a bit unlucky that skipper Gill suffered an injury early on in the initial match and was ruled out in the contest. Yet that neither explains nor absolves the squad of the well below standard showing in the two games against South Africa.
A number of star cricketers were damaged, and multiple individuals hoping for lengthy Test careers were exposed as still inadequate - technically or mentally - for the longer format.
Worrying Trend
This represented the second series sweep at home suffered by the Indian team in just more than a year. In 2024, little-fancied the Kiwis had achieved a surprising 3-0 win which essentially denied the hosts a berth in the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
The recent defeat to South Africa risks harming the team's hopes of qualifying for the decider of this season also.
From number three in the WTC rankings before the series, the side have dropped to fifth place. Even though nine more Tests are still to come, half of these are against Australia. Typically, playing at home would be a significant benefit - even when facing the powerful Australians. But the debacles against New Zealand and the Proteas offer no room for such assurance.
Reasons for the Slump
India's weakness in red-ball cricket has been badly exposed. Nevertheless, the reason the team have fared so badly in Tests on home soil in recent times is remains puzzling.
From the year 2000 onwards, India were regarded as impregnable in red-ball cricket at home. Under sweltering weather and on pitches that assisted spinners and suited their batsmen and bowlers, the hosts faced little challenge. The odd series defeat, such as in the 2012-13 season against England, was considered an aberration.
Currently, India appear to be vulnerable on home turf.
Against the Kiwis in 2024 and South Africa this year, the home side were beaten at their own game. The surfaces they curated to help their style went wrong completely, as the opposition used them more effectively, beating India's batsmen and bowlers when it was most crucial.
What's Gone Wrong?
A few experts argue that the Indian team is failing in home conditions because local wickets have been changed from turners to quick wickets to get cricketers ready to do well abroad.
A few mention that the Indian Premier League (IPL), in which numerous foreign cricketers participate, has removed the surprise and difficulty home wickets would challenge them with earlier.
Although there is validity in both analyses, it fails to account for why India's performances on home soil have witnessed such a staggering decline.
Several Weaknesses
Many past stars point to a complicated issue, not limited to one or two factors.
Critics and players have pointed to several failings post India's disappointing performance to the South Africans: underrating the rivals, inadequate readiness, flawed selections, overconfidence, constant chopping and changing of the team lineup, and emphasizing limited-overs over red-ball cricket.
This was evident in the performances of the team.
Cricketers such as Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal, of whom high hopes were held, were punished for their carelessness, while Sai Sudarshan, Reddy, and Dhruv Jurel - who were hoping to secure their position in the squad - fell short in ability and attitude, suffering the consequences for their lackadaisical method.
Only a handful - Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep, Mohammed Siraj and Washington Sundar - did justice to their ability and standing - but not sufficiently to win matches.
Coaching Scrutiny
The review targeted not only the cricketers - selectors and coaching staff were also under fire, driven by disappointed supporters and vocal past stars. At the centre of the scrutiny was team coach Gambhir.
In his post-series press
